Last season it came down to a last-second goal-line stop that allowed the Mavericks to defeat the Thunderwolves 20-19. The first victory against Colorado State University-Pueblo since 2009.
This season the stakes were just as big. The battle in the Thunderdome was a defensive standoff in the first half and an offensive shootout in the second and the game was ultimately settled by big plays. When the final whistle blew it was the Thunderwolves who came out on top 30-24, ending the Mavericks unbeaten season.
Throughout the first quarter, neither offense could find the endzone nor get any points on the board. Colorado Mesa University was the first to get on the scoreboard with a 43-yard Ryan Sheehan field goal early in the second quarter but the Thunderwolves responded with a field goal of their own to tie the game 3-3.
The spark of the game was not initiated until the kickoff following the CSU-Pueblo field goal. Vernel Moon, gave the Mavericks life with a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to give CMU the 10-7 lead.
However, it would not take long for the tides to turn in favor of the Thunderwolves. The first half was controlled by CMU until the last play of the first half where CSU-Pueblo had an answered prayer in the form of a Hail Mary pass from Rex Dussin to give the Thunderwolves a 13-10 lead at halftime.
CMU’s lack of a significant passing performance in the first half kept them from scoring any points on offense. The first time all season the Mavericks offense has not scored a touchdown in the first half.
CSU-Pueblo started the second half fast and hot with a three-play and 68-yard drive in which ended in a 13-yard touchdown run from Marche Dunne and the Mavericks would find themselves down 20-10. The biggest deficit they faced this season up to this point.
Eystin Salum finally found his rhythm and orchestrated the best Mavericks drive of the game that ended in a six-yard touchdown run by Salum to cut the lead down to 17-20 with 10:34 left in the 3rd.
Salum ended the game going 16-34 for 175 yards and a touchdown. He added another 102 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
After Dustin Rivas went down with a knee injury on a punt, Vernel Moon exploded for downfield for a 56-yard touchdown pass from Salum on the first play of the drive.
CMU would regain the lead 24-20 and would keep the lead heading into the fourth.
Despite the burst of energy from Salum and CMU’s offense, CSU-Pueblo would capitalize on significant Maverick injuries and penalties to regain control.
The Thunderwolves would take back the lead which a 16-yard touchdown run from Marche Dennard.
Another field goal would put the nail in the coffin to win 30-24 and hand CMU their first loss of the season.
Big plays and missed opportunities kept CMU from scoring more points on offense and the former national champions took advantage to ultimately defeat the Mavericks.
CMU returns to Grand Junction to face Black Hills State on Oct. 7 at Stocker Stadium.
